Significant Quotes: The authors state that “the set of socioeconomic and health inequalities characteristic of coal-mining areas of Appalachia highlights the need to develop more diverse, alternative local economies.”

“Addressing the health disparities of coal-mining communities requires developing economies that offer more diverse job opportunities at lower environmental cost, enacting and enforcing environmental protection policies, improving support for educational development, and creating built environments that are conducive to health and wellness.”

Results: Although smoking was the main factor contributing to lung cancer, living in a heavy coal-mining area was found to be an additional risk factor as residents in these areas are exposed to pollution from mining activities. The authors state that “regardless of whether causes are environmental, behavioral or economic, it is clear that populations in coal-mining areas are at risk for a host of health problems.”

"Companies that do mountaintop removal mining must be made to pay the full cost of their ventures. For too long it has been the people in the community paying with their health. When 20 year old nonsmokers start coming down with lung cancer, something is wrong! We need a moratorium on mountaintop removal today!"